Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Friday conceded defeat after preliminary results showed his party, the ruling Botswana Democratic Party ,BDP, has lost parliamentary majority in this week’s election, ending the party’s 58-year grip to power.
His defeat followed reports by state radio that the ruling BDP has lost by a landslide, citing results from over half the constituencies.
The opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change ,UDC, was leading, putting its leader, lawyer Duma Boko, on track to win the presidency. Boko has not yet publicly spoken.
“Although I wanted to stay on as your president, I respect the will of the people and I congratulate the president-elect. I will step aside and I will support the new administration,” Masisi said at a press conference.
The BDP has ruled the southern African country of 2.3 million people since its independence from Britain in 1966.
Mmegi said based on results from 36 of the 61 constituencies up for grabs that opposition parties had won more than half the seats in parliament, which elects the president.
A party needs to win 31 constituencies to get a majority in this election.
Botswana has enjoyed stability and relative prosperity thanks to its diamond wealth and small population, which gets free healthcare and education. It is the world’s top producer by value of the gem.
But a downturn in the diamond market has put a squeeze on revenues in the last few years, and the country has struggled to diversify its economy.
